Photo by Anna Weaver
Star of the Sea parishioners Dustie Nelson and (partially visible) Willie Iaela sing during the first day of the Hawaii Regional Charismatic Conference.
Song and praise open three-day Hawaii charismatic conference
By Anna Weaver | Hawaii Catholic Herald
Charismatic renewal Catholics from across the islands and a handful from the Mainland joyfully gathered at St. Philomena Church in Salt Lake, Aug. 3-5, for the 29th Annual Hawaii Regional Charismatic Conference.
The conference, which was themed “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,” opened last Friday night with more than an hour of song and praise. Shortly before 8 p.m. Deacon Dan Guinaugh welcomed the attendees and vicar general Father Marc Alexander offered a few words of inspiration.
Father Alexander then recognized several special guests, including Honolulu city councilman Gary Okino and Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona and his wife Vivian.
Lt. Gov. Aiona spoke briefly, saying that this was the first time that he and his wife had attended a Catholic charismatic renewal event. He said he wanted to encourage “spreading the spirit” and talked about how he had become closer to God since being elected to public office.
“I want you to know it’s all about Him,” he said. “It’s not all about us.”
At 8 p.m., visiting keynote speaker Father Peter Coughlin began the first of six sessions held throughout the weekend by asking everyone sitting in the church pews to stand up and join him in an “action song.” Soon everyone was singing, dancing and motioning with their arms.
Father Coughlin, who until recently was the director of service to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service of Ontario, started his talk, entitled “Healing in the Scriptures,” by emphasizing that God is “the only true healing.”
Making frequent references to the Bible, Father Coughlin spoke about God’s power to heal — literally and figuratively. He explained four words in Scripture that are connected to healing: signs, wonders, words and energies.
Healing, he said, is here to “give faith or to draw people further along” in their faith.
Other speakers at the weekend conference included Father Gary Secor, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Kuliouou and former vicar of clergy, and Father Alexander.
The Hawaii Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services organizes the charismatic conference every year.